“Research continues to confirm that workers without flexible options are less happy and more likely to leave,” said Sara Sutton Fell, Founder of 1 Million for Work Flexibility. “As employers face a tighter labor market and the potential of losing great workers, they need to recognize what their employees truly value -- such as the opportunity to work flexibly so they can better meet the demands in both their professional and personal lives,” Sutton Fell concluded.

Employees who give a straightforward, fact-based presentation about how working from home will benefit the company, as opposed to requests based on personal issues or needs, have a greater likelihood of having their requests met. Below are seven suggestions to help employees convince their bosses to let them work from home.

79% said having work flexibility would make them more loyal to their employer

98% believe they would be as or more productive working in a home office.

70% say they'd be less stressed from commuting, leading to better focus at work.

Suggest a test:

A manager’s concerns may be based on his/her unfamiliarity with how remote workers operate. Suggest starting small with a test run. Set up a plan to work from home one or two days a week for a month. Some suggest thatWednesday might be the best work-from-home day for a manager’s comfort level. Closely track tasks and productivity on those days, communicate regularly throughout the day, and then discuss the results of the test so managers can see the return on investment in a remote work setup.

If managers are presented with an all-or-nothing request, they’re likely to opt for nothing. To avoid this problem, scale back and ask to work three days in the office and two full-time days at home to start. If productivity is higher on the work from home days, it’s more likely the arrangement can convert to working from home, full-time.

Communicate your communication plans:

Managers might be wary of remote work because they are unfamiliar with the communication tools workers use to stay connected virtually to their in-office co-workers. Demonstrate familiarity with communication tools such as Skype, Google Chats, FaceTime and other videoconferencing. Lay out how when, how and how often he or she can expect to hear from you during the week.

Be patient:

Managers may need time to process something new, so be sensitive to that reality. Keep working toward the goal, but always show patience and be respectful. And look for opportunities to prove your ability to efficiently work from home--during inclement weather, when you need to be home to meet the electrician, or when you take work home to finish at night or on the weekends, for example. The increased flexibility of remote work is worth the wait.

For additional resources to support a remote work request, see 1MFWF’s guides on the Business Case for Work Flexibility, the various Types of Work Flexibility, and Work Flexibility Policies around the country.

1 Million for Work Flexibility (1MFWF) is the first national initiative to create a collective voice in support of work flexibility. Launched in 2013, the 1MFWF movement now has more than 100 coalition members including advocacy groups, think tanks, academic institutions, and businesses, as well as thousands of individuals championing the many types of flexible work that lead to happier and healthier workers and also improve the economy.